We Get the Regional Government We Deserve, Folks

And we in Niagara, Ontario certainly deserve better than what we have now!

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted March 31st, 2017 on Niagara at Large

Niagara, Ontario – Never doubt it when someone wisely says that we get the government we deserve and that election make a difference.

If you don’t believe it, just look at what is happening in the United States right now. But you don’t even have to look that big or that far.

Look at what we’ve got at Niagara’s regional government level where – I will say it now, and you will find me saying it again and again if you continue visiting Niagara At Large for an alternatives news and commentary voice in the weeks a months ahead – we only have about a dozen elected people on the current regional council that deserve re-election.

Niagara, Ontario’s regional council in session, with the Region’ chair, Al Calin, at top left. File photo by Doug Draper

The rest have got to go!

In my more than 35 years of covering environmental and other issues as a reporter in this Niagara region, I can say, without doubt, that I have never witnessed the lack of civility and the level of insult, bullying and contempt for the democratic process as I have with this council with regional chair Al Caslin at the helm.

You can sit in the gallery of the regional council chambers week after week, and it doesn’t take very long before you have whole notebook full of example of everyone from representatives for the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce to students from Brock University, and people from all walk of life in between, being treated in disrespectful ways when they make a presentation before the council, if they are granted an opportunity to make a presentation at all.

Members of regional council who find themselves or the positions they take out of favour with the blue meanies in who see themselves in charge can come in for some pretty shabby treatment too.

The records, the armies of eyewitnesses and the livestream records of council and committee meeting are there to prove it, and Niagara At Large will show more in the weeks and month ahead.

Just as a recent example, check out the following episode from the March 30th regional council meeting which has been making the round on social media today. One of the people sending it around observed, with a note of irony, that the segment begins with the following line from Chair Caslin – “It’ an exciting day,” which tailed off an earlier discussion on news that Niagara will play host to 2021 Canada Summer Games.

Here is the council meeting clip to click on –

There is only 18 month left – not a very long time to plan – before the next municipal elections in October 2018.

Get engaged people. Start paying closer attention to who you have serving you on Niagara regional council and what they are doing. Start considering who you want to run for regional council in your area. Consider running yourself.

Together, we can work to elect a regional council that serves the people and takes the health and welfare of our communities to heart for generation to come.

So Once Again People. Get Engaged or Pay the Price.

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“A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders